Further worsening of W.A. rainfall deficits

The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that below average
rainfall during April caused a worsening of the rainfall
deficiencies in southwestern W.A. There was little change in a
smaller and less intense region of deficits in southeast Queensland.

13-month rainfall deficiencies

The period of severe rainfall deficiencies in Western Australia
has now extended to 13 months after
April rainfall was less than 20% of the long-term average across
much of the southwest. For the period from April 2000 to April 2001,
deficits exist in southern Western Australia in a band stretching
from near Carnarvon in the north, to Albany and Esperance in the south. A large area in the
south of the affected region has recorded lowest on record for this
particular 13-month period.

15-month rainfall deficiencies

Deficiencies for the 15 months from February 2000 to April 2001
remain in southeast Queensland over a region of the Darling Downs
stretching northwest from Warwick.
April rainfall in this region was generally close to the long-term
average which meant there was little change in the affected area.